Teresa Coyan received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Missouri State University in 2007 and started at Cox in 2008 as executive assistant in the corporate integrity department.

“I’m a proud alumna. Any opportunity I have to be at a basketball game, Homecoming, etc., I’m there decked out in Bears gear!” Coyan said.

Creating leadership opportunities

Although she was a new employee, Coyan founded the CoxHealth Young Professionals, an organization designed to connect young professionals in Cox through professional development, community service and networking. The organization also has a program that pairs young professionals with mentors.

“I realized as a young professional that there were lots of things that I wanted to be connected to in our organization. I wanted to be more involved and get to know others in our organization, but there wasn’t a lot of built-in infrastructure for relationship building or just connecting with people across the organization,” she said.

So, she approached her mentor, former city manager Greg Burris, and they put together a plan and proposal for Cox’s leadership team. It was approved and has been successful ever since.

Finding her passion

Coyan was a go-getter at Missouri State, too.

While here, she was involved with A Cub Bella, Xi Omicron Iota and Campus Crusade for Christ – which is where she met her husband.

“He came up to me one time and was like, ‘You look so familiar.’ And I’m like, ‘No.’ And I was thinking it was some kind of like cheesy pickup line. And come to find out the next week when we went to classes, we had like three or four business classes together. So, obviously I was more studious and he was looking around a lot more,” she said.

Coyan is originally from St. Claire, Missouri, but fell in love with MSU’s campus and personality. She enrolled as a music major, but quickly changed to business. It’s where she found her passion— passion that has translated into success.

Taking on a new role

As vice president of public affairs for Springfield’s largest employer, Coyan is responsible for advancing the policy and legislative agenda to support Cox’s patients, employees and community at a local, state and national level.

“I feel that my role is to be the pulse on what is happening with health care policy,” Coyan said. “It’s a very rewarding job in the sense that I get to be the voice for our million-plus patients, as well as our 12,000-plus employees when it comes to policy and legislation.”

Now that’s a Bear that’s making a difference.

Giving back to COB

Making a difference is what she’s always done. Coyan has given back through a host of organizations including the Junior League and MSU’s Corporate Mentor program at the College of

Business.

This program connects first-generation and underrepresented students with professionals in the greater Springfield business community to foster professional development.

As a mentor, Coyan worked with a student, Bree, for one academic year to develop her professional skills and assist with career exploration.

“I was overwhelmed by how talented, genuine, kind and open my mentee was,” Coyan said. “I’m even more excited to stay connected with her and watch her change the world. It was rewarding to be part of this program not only for the opportunity to meet Bree, but also to see the ways MSU is invested in students beyond the classroom.”

Want to become a mentor in COB’s Corporate Mentor program? Contact Melissa Price at MelissaPrice@MissouriState.edu.